Hidden Stories of the Slave Trade Through the initiatives of per- that died of a consumption; and being dead, he sistent campaigners and the estab- caused him to be dried in an Oven, and lies there lishment of websites such as 100 entire in a box'. Great Black Britons and The Black Abolitionists made use of the trade in children to Presence in Britain, the names of highlight the evils of slavery. The historical figures such as Mary Society for the Purpose of Seacole, John Archer and William Effecting the Abolition of the Cuffay are becoming more familiar African Slave Trade gathered in the UK's schools. In addition, evidence such as the case of commemoration of the bicentenary George Dale who was kidnapped and transported of the act to abolish the trade in from Africa aged about 11. He arrived in Scotland slaves, has brought to the forefront figures such as after working as a plantation cook and then as a Ignatius Sancho, Ottobah Cuguano and Mary crewman on a fighting ship. Prince, highlighting their contribution to the move- ment to abolish the trade. Loyal and not so loyal service A little digging, though, uncovers a wealth of Two Black servants accompanied their master on other, hidden stories - tales of hypocrisy, appalling Captain Cook's first voyage round the world in cruelty, guile, bravery and sheer determination that 1768. Together with a can have relevance to geography, citizenship, reli- white seaman, they gious education and law as well as history. climbed a mountain to gather rare plants for To have and to own scientific purposes. The It is sometimes forgotten that many of the result of the expedition Africans kidnapped for the trade in slaves were chil- was recorded in Captain Cook's Journal During His dren. Contemporary advertisements in newspapers First Voyage Around the World : offer for sale 'A Negroe BOY, about ten Years old' or Thomas Richmond : Negro Servant : Frozen to 'A Pretty little Negro Boy, about nine Years old, and death : 16 January, 1769. well limb'd' (Daily Advertiser, 11 December 1744). George Dorlton : Negro Servant : Frozen to death : Clearly, from the 'wanted' ads, children were very 16 January, 1769. much in demand: 'WANTED, A NEGRO LAD, The purchase of slaves did not always go to plan Native of ABO, from 15 to 17 Years old, Who has as shown by an advertisement, typical of those in had the Small-Pox, and is of a healthy many papers of the time: 'RUN AWAY from his Constitution…' According to Cymru Ddu: Hanes MASTER at SUMMER HILL, last Monday the 27th Pobl Duon Cymru/Black Wales: A History of Black July, BLACK BOY, Whose name is WILL; He is Welsh People,Sir John Phillips, MP for about 15 years of age, speaks English plain, has a Pembrokeshire was given a 6-year-old black boy burnt mark on one of his wrists…' from Senegal. Mary Harris,a Black-woman, of the Parish of St. Peter Fryer points out in the remarkably detailed Giles in the Fields, was indicted for feloniously Staying Power: the History of Black People in Britain Stealing a Pair of Holland-sheets, 3 Smocks, and that in 1651 the administrators of the Guinea other Goods of Nicholas Laws, Gent. on the 30th of Company were able to ask James Pope, as he set sail November last. It appeared that she was a Servant in for Africa to ‘buy for us 15 or 20 young lusty Negers the House, and took the Goods, which were after- of about 15 years of age, bring them home with you wards pawned by the Prisoner'. 'Lawrence Noney , for London…’ Charles II paid £50 for a black slave a black Boy, was Tryed for stealing a Leading Staff, in 1682 and Samuel Pepys records in his diary being having a Silver Head on it weighing 19 Ounces, shown by Sir Robert Vigner 'a black boy that he had value 4 l. 15 s. on the 16th of March last, from the -1- Honourable Company of Haberdashers, London...' continued to campaign against slavery in the United In 1779, Lucy Johnson was found guilty of 'theft States. Ellen wrote to the editor of the Anti-Slavery with violence' and was sentenced to death. Advocate, 'I had much rather starve in England, a free woman, than to be a slave for the best man that The law working for and against ever breathed upon the American continent.' The Records of the Old Bailey show couple remained in London for 19 years before that 'Isaac George (a Blackamoor) returning to the United States. was indicted for assaulting John The African-American poet Phillis Wheatley Gravener, in the King's Highway, published her first volume of poetry, Poems on putting him in Fear, and taking Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in London in from him a Pair of Silver-bow'd 1773 because no publisher in her native Boston Scissars, value 5 s. a Silver Spatula, would publish it. Mary Prince, an abolitionist and value 4 s. a Silver Probe, value 6 d. a former slave, also came from America and pub- Steel crooked Needle, value 1 d a lished the story of her experiences in The History of Fish skin Case with Silver Hinges and Clasps, value Mary Prince: a West Indian Slave. She became the 10 s. 6 d .... Ann Duck quickly learned a new trade… first Black woman to publish an autobiography in as a highwaywoman. She was ‘indicted, with anoth- England. She was also the first black woman to pres- er Person to the Jurors unknown, for assaulting ent an anti-slavery petition to Parliament. William Cooper on the Highway, putting him in In 1789, Olaudah Equiano pub- fear, and taking from him a Money-bag, Value 1 d. lished his autobiography, The and 35 s. in Money , his Property, Dec. 28. Interesting Narrative of the Life of David Spens had been brought to Scotland from Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the West Indies in around 1768 by Dr David the African, Written By Himself.He Dalrymple. Spens asked, and was allowed, to be bap- more or less self-published his book, tised. He then ran away and it was claimed that since retaining the copyright and putting he 'had been baptised he was no longer heathen and together a list of well-connected and therefore no longer a slave'. He received a great deal influential subscribers, who agreed to buy of local support though Dalrymple died before the copies. It was submitted to Parliament as documen- case could come to court. tary evidence when the bill for the abolition of the The case of James Somerset,brought to England slave trade was being debated in 1792. The book was by an American, did result in a famous judgement. a success and made Equiano a wealthy man. Somerset ran away and his owner tried to force him on board ship to sail to America. Lord Mansfield Economic success ruled, in 1772 that ‘A foreigner cannot be impris- John Edmonstone,a freed captive from British oned here on the authority of any law existing in his Guiana (now Guyana) earmed his living in own country’.Although not bringing an end to slav- Edinburgh by teaching taxidermy. One of his stu- ery in Britain, the ruling did mean that slaves could dents was Charles Darwin. not be forced by their owners to leave England. Nathaniel Wells was the son of a slave-owner in St Kitts. He was sent to England to be educated and A haven for abolitionists eventually inherited much of his father's slave After the trade in slaves was abol- estates. 'I give unto my Natural and Dear Son ished, the UK provided sanctuary and Nathaniel Wells whose mother is my woman Juggy support for a number of slaves escap- and who is now in England for his Education … I ing from the United States. One of the recommend my Dear Son Nathaniel Wells above- most dramatic and innovative escape mentioned to the particular Care and Attention of stories is that of Ellen and William my Executors hereafter named and that they will be Craft who fled slave catchers and pleased to pay particular Attention to his Education bounty hunters. Ellen's skin was light and that when he is fit and qualified they will send enough to allow her to dress in trousers and a top him to the university of Oxford and According to hat and pretend to be a Southern slaveholder while my Calculation the remainder of my Estate…’ Wells her husband travelled with her as her servant. They was undoubtedly the richest Black man in the coun- boarded a ship heading for Liverpool, arriving there try owning his own plantations (and slaves). He in 1851. They settled in West London where they lived in Chepstow and was appointed a Justice of the -2- Peace and became High Sheriff of Monmouthshire myself a friend to the liberty of others.’ He suggest- in 1818. He fathered 22 children and died in Bath in ed an annual one-hour strike throughout the whole 1852, aged 72. island. Because of his political activities, he was tried for sedition and sentenced to two years’ imprison- Fighting for and against the British ment. The First West India Regiment,made up of Sam Sharpe,born into slavery in Jamaica, grew Black soldiers, was formed in 1795 and consisted up to become a Baptist preacher who followed the mainly of freed Africans. The regiment went on to growing abolitionist movement in Britain and ser- fight in Barbados, British Guiana, the Gold Coast, monized about the iniquity of slavery in his own Gambia, Sierra Leone, Jamaica (the Morant Bay parishes.